Dim Prospects

Light Bulb Standards Weakened

kosolovskyy/Shutterstock.com

Higher federal standards for energy-efficient light bulbs established two years ago are in the process of being rolled back by the U.S. Department of Energy, part of a move toward widespread deregulation by the current administration. Consumers stand to lose about $100 per household per year in electric bill savings if the higher standards are not implemented, say critics. The wasted energy could result in more power plant pollution, which harms the environment and contributes to health problems like asthma. The plan would also stifle innovation, eliminating a powerful regulatory incentive for manufacturers and retailers to invest in high-quality, energy-efficient LED light bulbs.

More from Natural Awakenings

Airborne radiation from nuclear bomb testing in Nevada during the Cold War contaminated pastures throughout the country, leading to 340,000 to 690,000 human deaths from radioactive milk, estimates an economist.